Four-way valve

ABSTRACT

A flow diversion valve having first and second tubular spool housings joined at a contiguous edge to form an assembly, each of the housings having a flow passageway intermediate the housing ends, the passageways being opposite each other, and each of the housings having first and second ports formed in the sidewall spaced 90° from the flow passageways, with each housing having one port towards one end and the other port towards the other end, with the ports being on opposite sides, and the valve having a closed chamber on each side of the assembly connecting one port of each of the spool housings, each of the flow chambers having a flow passageway therein so that the valve has a total of four flow passageways, and a spool slidably positioned in each of the spool housings, each of the spools having spaced apart pistons sealably engaging the internal surfaces of the housing, the spools being connected for conjoint reciprocal positioning within the spool housings so that in one position one port in the first spool housing communicates with one port of the second spool housing, and in another position, the other ports of the spool housing are connected, thereby providing means of switching the direction of fluid flow within the valve.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A flow diverter valve is provided which is particularly adaptable for use in switching the direction of fluid flow in a meter prover; however, the valve is not limited to this application. The valve is formed of first and second tubular spool housings which are assembled together in parallel arrangement with the contiguous external surfaces being sealed such as by welding. Each of the spool housings has a flow passageway in the sidewall thereof intermediate its ends providing first and second flow passageways. In the assembly of spool housings together, the first and second flow passageways extend oppositely of each other.

Formed in the first spool housing is a first port spaced between the flow passageway and one end of the housing, the port being oriented 90° from the flow passageway. The first spool housing also has a second port opening spaced between the flow passageway and the other end of the housing with the second port being on the side opposite the first port. In like manner, the second spool housing has first and second ports on opposite sides of the housing, each oriented 90° from the flow passageway. In the assembly of the two housings together, the ports are in a staggered arrangement, that is, the port towards one end of the first spool housing is on the same side of the assembly as the port towards the opposite end of the second spool housing, with the other side of the assembly being similarly arranged.

Secured to each side of the assembly is a closed chamber. The first chamber assembly encompasses the first spool housing first port and the second spool housing second port. The first closed chamber has a flow passageway in it which preferably is in the same plane as the first and second flow passageways communicating with the spool housings.

The second closed chamber on the opposite side of the spool housing assembly encompasses the first spool housing second port and the second spool housing first port and has a fourth flow passageway therein also preferably in the same plane as the first three mentioned flow passageways.

Positioned in the first spool housing is a first spool member which is slidable between two operating positions. The spool member includes two spaced apart pistons which sealably engage the internal cylindrical surface of the spool housing. In like manner, a second spool member is slidably received in the second spool housing, and it also has a first and second piston spaced which sealably engages the housing internal cylindrical wall. The spool members are connected together for simultaneous axial displacements within the spool housings. In one operating position the first port of both the first and second spool housing is opened, and the second ports of both housings are closed. In the other operating position the first ports of each of the spool housings is closed and the second ports are open. Since the ports are on opposite sides of the spool housings, the two operating positions of the spool members means that the communication between the flow passageways in the spool housings and the chambers are reversed when the spools are moved from one position to another.

When the valve is applied such as to control the direction of fluid flow to a meter prover, fluid may flow constantly into the first flow passageway in the first spool chamber, and flow constantly out the flow passageway in the second spool housing while the direction of flow in the third and fourth fluid passageways is reversed according to the position of the spool members.

An important advantage of the invention is that the valve can be manufactured with readily available structural components welded together, thereby avoiding the use of castings. In addition, the amount of machining required to achieve a leakproof valve is reduced to a minimum.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the invention showing a valve which is particularly adaptable for use to control the flow of fluid in a meter proving system.

FIG. 2 is an elevational side view of the valve of FIG. 1 with a portion of the flow chamber forming barrel being cut away to reveal the tubular spool housing assembly.

FIG. 3 is an elevational cross-sectional view of the valve of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5--5 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawing, and first to FIG. 1, an isometric external view of a valve which embodies the principle of this invention is illustrated. The valve is particularly adaptable for use in a meter proving system although it obviously is not limited to this application. Examples of the application of valving systems to control fluid flow through meter prover systems are illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,682,198; 3,978,707; 3,668,923; and 3,605,810. In a meter prover system it is desirable to have a valve which has four ports, one being an inlet port and the other an outlet port with the other two ports being connected to the meter prover system, the valve providing means of reversing the direction of fluid flow to the meter prover.

In FIG. 1 the valve which is generally indicated by the numeral 10 includes four flanges providing means for attachment of the valve to piping, indicated by a fluid inlet flange 12, fluid outlet flange 14, a first flow diversion flange l6 and a second flow diversion flange 18. The flanges 12-16 are merely illustrative of means of connecting the valve to piping as it can be seen that the connection to the valve may be made by any other standard piping arrangement, including screw-threaded fittings. The valve includes a first tubular spool housing 20 and a second tubular spool housing 22.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the internal arrangement of the valve is illustrated. The first tubular spool housing 20 has a first end 24 and a second end 26. Intermediate the ends 24 and 26 is a first flow passageway 28. Communicating with the first flow passageway 28 is a short length of pipe 30 which connects to flange 12.

A first port opening 32 is formed in the sidewall of the first tubular spool housing 20 between the first flow passageway 28 and the first end 24. The first port opening 32 is oriented 90° from first flow passageway 28. There is also provided a second port opening 34 (shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 but not seen in FIG. 3). Second port 34 is spaced between the first flow passageway 28 and the spool housing second end 26. Second port 34 is spaced 90° from the flow passageway 28 and on opposite sides of the tubular housing from the first port 32.

The second tubular spool housing 22 is formed in the same manner as that of the first spool housing and has a first end 36 and a second end 38. A second flow passageway 40 is formed in the sidewall of the spool housing 22 intermediate the ends 36 and 34 and has communicating with it a short length of pipe 42 connected to flange 14.

A first port opening 44 is provided in the second spool housing 22 between the second flow passageway 40 and end 36 and oriented 90° from it, the first port being seen in FIGS. 2 and 4 but not in FIG. 3. In addition, a second port 46 is formed in the second spool housing 22 between the second fluid passageway 40 and end 38 and is seen in FIG. 5 in dotted outline and in FIGS. 2 and 3. The ports 44 and 46 formed in opposite sides of second tubular spool housing 22 are each spaced 90° from the second flow passageway 40.

In the formation of the valve of this invention the tubular spool housings 20 and 22 are joined together in a contiguous sealed paralleled relationship such as by welding along the contiguous line 48. The two lengths of housing 20 and 22 thus welded form an assembly; and in the assembly ports 32 and 44 are towards ends 24 and 36 and on opposite sides of each other and, in like manner, ports 34 and 46 are towards the spool housing ends 26 and 38 and on opposite sides of each other.

A first closed chamber 50 is formed on one side of the assembled spool housings. In the illustrated arrangement the first closed chamber 50 is formed by a semi-cylindrical barrel member 52 which is secured at its longitudinal edges to the spool housings 20 and 22. In like manner, a second closed chamber 54 is formed by a second semi-cylindrical barrel member 56 which is likewise welded to the spool housings. In the illustrated arrangement the semi-cylindrical barrel members 52 and 56 when welded in position form a cylindrical enclosure for the valve as illustrated in FIG. 1.

Formed in the first semi-cylindrical barrel member 52 is a third flow passageway 58; and formed in the second cylindrical barrel member 56 is a fourth flow passageway 60. The passageways 58 and 60 are seen in dotted outline in FIG. 4. Connecting to flow passageway 58 is a short length of pipe 62 which extends to flange 16 and, in like manner, a short length of pipe 64 connects the fourth flow passageway 60 with flange 18.

Flow chambers 50 and 54 are closed by a first end plate 66 and a second end plate 68. Each of the end plates 66 and 68 includes openings sealably receiving the tubular spool housings 20 and 22.

Slidably positioned within each of the tubular spool housings 20 and 22 is a spool assembly. The spool assembly in spool housing 20 includes a central shaft 70, a first piston 72, a second piston 74, and nuts 76 by which the pistons are maintained in position. Shaft 70 includes an axial portion 78 which extends beyond the end 24 of the tubular housing 20.

The spool assembly slidably positioned in the second tubular spool housing 22 contains the same elements, that is, a central shaft 80, a first piston 82, a second piston 84, nuts 86 which hold the pistons in position, and an integral axial extending portion 88.

Each of the pistons 72, 74, 82 and 84 are shown in the simplest embodiment and are illustrated as being solid members with O-ring grooves and gaskets; however, it can be seen that these pistons can be formulated in many ways and arranged to resist the maximum fluid pressures to which the valve will be subjected. The illustrated embodiment is by way of example only, and in a practical application of the invention the pistons will in most instances have a different configuration and appearance; however, their function will remain the same.

The spool assemblies are connected for simultaneous reciprocal operation by means of a yoke 90 which connects to the shaft extension portions 78 and 88 and held in position by nuts 92. The valve may be operated by reciprocally positioning the spool assemblies, and this may be achieved either manually or, in the illustrated arrangement, by means of a cylinder 94 having a piston rod 96 extending from it, the piston rod being connected to the yoke 90 and held in position by nut 98. The cylinder 94 may be actuated hydraulically or pneumatically, or the yoke 90 may be positioned by electric motor driven means. Instead of a cylinder 94 a diaphragm type device may be employed. Any device for axially simultaneously positioning the spool assemblies within the valve can be used to actuate the valve.

OPERATION

With the spool assemblies in the upward position as shown in FIG. 3, fluid flowing into the first flow passageway 28, that is, through flange 12, and flows into the interior of the first spool housing 20. The lower port 34 is blocked by piston 74, however, the upper port 32 is open. Therefore, the fluid flows through port 32 and into the first closed chamber 50 and out through third flow passageway 58 and flange 16. When the device is connected such as to a meter prover, the flow outwardly through flange 16 causes an equal volume of fluid flow into the valve through flange 18 and thus through the fourth flow passageway 60 into the second closed chamber 54. Fluid flows through first port 44 into the interior of the second spool housing 22 and thence through the second flow passageway 40 and the outlet flange 14.

When the spool assemblies are moved to the second or downward position as illustrated in FIG. 2, fluid flow into the valve through flange 12 passes into the interior of the first tubular spool housing 20. Port 32 is now closed, however, port 34 is now open, and thereby fluid flows through port 34 into the second closed chamber 54 and out through the fourth flow passageway 60 through flange 18. The fluid flow returns through flange 16, through the third flow passageway 58 into the first closed chamber 50, through the second port 46 into the interior of the second spool housing 22 and thence out through the second flow passageway and through flange 14. Thus, with the valve in the first position as shown in FIG. 3 or the second position as shown in FIG. 2, fluid can always flow into the valve through flange 12 and out of the valve through flange 14, but the direction of fluid flow taking place within the valve is reversible, depending upon the position of the spools.

An advantage of the valve of this invention is that it can be fabricated without the use of castings and with a minimal amount of machining. The valve is manufactured by first performing machining operations as necessary on the interior of the first and second tubular spool housings 20 and 22. In the illustrated arrangement as shown in cross-sectional view of FIG. 3, reduced internal diameter portions are provided for the valve when in various positions to provide more effective sealing surfaces to engage the seals, however, the function of the valve would be the same if the interior of the spool housings were completely cylindrical. The illustration of internal machining to provide improved sealing arrangements is merely exemplary of ways in which the valve may be improved according to the demands to which the valve is to be used. The assembly of the valve is initiated by first welding along line 48 the first and second tubular spool housings 20 and 22 together to form an assembly. Next the semi-cylindrical barrel members 52 and 56 are welded to the assembly. End plates 66 and 68 are then welded in position. In some instances, it may be desirable that the short length of pipes 30 and 32 connecting with the fluid passageways 28 and 40 in the first and second spool housing be welded in position before the semi-cylindrical barrel members 52 and 56 are placed in position and welded. The pipes 62 and 64 can then be welded to the semi-cylindrical barrel members. After the body of the valve is completely assembled the spools can be inserted, and it can be seen that the valve can be completely repaired by removing the spools without otherwise disassembling the valve in any way.

The valve provides a highly useful diverting valve which accomplishes flow diversion in a simple, straightforward manner without requiring extensive linkages and is adaptable to the use of commercially available valve actuators exemplified by cylinder 94.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated the spacing between pistons 72, 74 and 82, 84 is arranged so that the upper and lower ports will not be closed at the same time. This arrangement is desirable especially when the valve is used for a meter prover application in that it prevents the blockage of fluid flow through the valve at any time, even when the spools are being shifted to change the direction of fluid flow. If desirable, however, the spacing between the pistons can be arranged so that in one position of the spools the flow of fluid through the valve is completely blocked.

The preferred arrangement of the valve is illustrated in which the ports are staggered, permitting the spools to be moved in the same direction to change the direction of fluid flow through the valve, such as by means of yoke 90. If ports 32 and 44 and ports 34 and 46 are on the same side of the spool housing assembly, then to change fluid flow direction the spool in housing 20 would be moved in one direction while the spool in housing 22 is moved in the opposite direction. While this arrangement would function satisfactorily, a more complex mechanism for shifting the spools would be required. For this reason, the embodiment in which the location of the ports are staggered, as illustrated, is preferred.

While the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is manifest that many changes may be made in the details of construction and the arrangement of components without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. It is understood that the invention is not limited to the exemplified embodiments set forth herein but is to be limited only by the scope of the attached claim or claims, including the full range of equivalency to which each element thereof is entitled. 

What is claimed:
 1. A flow diverter valve comprising:a first tubular spool housing having first and second ends, having a first flow passageway in the sidewall intermediate the ends, having a first port opening between the flow passageway and the first end and a second port opening between the flow passageway and the second end, the first and second port openings being on opposite sides of the spool housing and 90° from said flow passageway; a second tubular spool housing having first and second ends, having a second flow passageway in the sidewall intermediate the ends, having a first port opening between the flow passageway and the first end and a second port opening between the flow passageway and the second end, the first and second port openings being on opposite sides of the spool housing and 90° from the flow passageway, the first and second spools being assembled contiguous to each other in parallel arrangement with the contiguous exterior surfaces sealed and with said first and second flow passageways being opposite each other, forming a spool housing assembly, and wherein the first port opening of the first spool housing and the second port opening of the second spool housing are on the same side of the spool housing assembly and the second port opening of the first spool housing and the first port opening of the second spool housing being on the other side of the assembly; means forming a first closed chamber on one side of the spool housing assembly encompassing said first spool housing first port and said second spool housing second port, and having a third flow passageway therein; means forming a second closed chamber on the other side of the spool housing assembly encompassing said first spool housing second port and said second spool housing first port and having a fourth flow passageway therein; a first spool member slidably received in said first spool housing and having spaced apart first and second piston members; a second spool member slidably received in said second spool housing and having spaced apart first and second piston members; and means for simultaneously positioning said spool members between two positions whereby in one position communication is provided between said first flow passageway and said first spool housing first port and between said second flow passageway and said second spool housing first port and in the other position communication is provided between said first flow passageway and said first housing second port and said second flow passageway and said second housing second port, communication being thereby provided in the first position between said first and third flow passageways and said second and fourth flow passageways and in the second position between said first and fourth passageways and between said second and third passageways.
 2. A flow diverter valve according to claim 1 wherein each of said spool members is formed of a rod having said pistons thereon, and wherein a portion of each rod extends beyond the first end of the spool housing in which it is received, and includinga yoke connecting said rods, said means of simultaneously displacing said spool members being connected to said yoke.
 3. A flow diverter valve according to claim 1 wherein said means forming said first and second closed chambers is in the form of a semi-cylindrical housing, the housing being joined together to form a cylinder encompassing said spool housing assembly and including end plates closing the formed cylinder. 